Light guiding arrangement, spark and/or flame detector and fire protection system

Abstract

The present invention relates to a light guiding arrangement ( 1 ) for transmitting electromagnetic radiation, in particular ultraviolet and/or infrared radiation, and a spark and/or flame detector that uses same. The light guiding arrangement ( 1 ) comprises a housing ( 10 ) and a light guiding rod ( 20 ), wherein the housing ( 10 ) has a light entrance opening ( 12 ) and a light exit opening ( 14 ) situated opposite, wherein the light guiding rod ( 20 ) is arranged in the housing ( 10 ) between the light entrance opening ( 12 ) and the light exit opening ( 14 ), wherein the light guiding rod ( 20 ) is mounted resiliently on at least one side in the housing ( 10 ).

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A light guiding arrangement for transmitting electromagnetic radiation, the light guiding arrangement comprising:
 a housing and a light guiding rod, 
 wherein the housing has a light entrance opening and an opposite light exit opening, 
 wherein the light guiding rod is arranged in the housing between the light entrance opening and the light exit opening, 
 wherein the light guiding rod is resiliently mounted on at least one side in the housing with a spring-loaded mounting, 
 wherein the housing includes an internal surface between the light guiding rod and the light exit opening, and 
 wherein the internal surface supports the spring-loaded mounting. 
 
     
     
       2. The light guiding arrangement as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the internal surface that supports the spring-loaded mounting comprises a cantilever mounting surface that extends transverse to a longitudinal axis of the housing to support the spring-loaded mounting, and wherein the spring-loaded mounting engages at least a terminal portion of the light guiding rod that extends transverse to an axial direction of the light guiding rod. 
     
     
       3. The light guiding arrangement according to  claim 2 , wherein an air gap is formed between the light guiding rod and the housing in the axial direction of the light guiding rod, wherein the air gap is between 0.2 mm and 5 mm. 
     
     
       4. The light guiding arrangement as claimed in  claim 3 , further comprising a protection optical unit arranged in front of the light guiding rod at the light entrance opening. 
     
     
       5. The light guiding arrangement as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the housing has a thread in a region of the light entrance opening, and the protection optical unit is embodied to be screwed onto the housing, and wherein, in the region of the light entrance opening, a fixing element for the protection optical unit is formed in the form of beading. 
     
     
       6. The light guiding arrangement as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein a tolerance ring is mounted in a floating manner between the protection optical unit and the housing or light guiding rod. 
     
     
       7. The light guiding arrangement as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the light guiding arrangement has an elastic mounting in a radial direction around the light guiding rod and wherein the elastic mounting comprises an additional spring-loaded mounting in an internal groove in the housing. 
     
     
       8. The light guiding arrangement according to  claim 2 , wherein the light guiding arrangement has an air gap, that radially surrounds the light guiding rod, between the light guiding rod and the housing, wherein the light guiding arrangement has an air inlet device, which is set up to introduce air into the air gap between the light guiding rod and the housing. 
     
     
       9. The light guiding arrangement as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the housing has cooling fins, on its outside in an axial direction of the housing. 
     
     
       10. The light guiding arrangement as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the light guiding rod consists of sapphire and/or the housing consists of stainless steel. 
     
     
       11. The light guiding arrangement as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a receptacle for receiving a sensor head of a flame and/or spark detector is formed in a region of the light exit opening. 
     
     
       12. The light guiding arrangement as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the light guiding arrangement is embodied for coupling optical radiation and an electronic or sensor system. 
     
     
       13. The light guiding arrangement as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the light guiding arrangement is embodied for use in regions with challenging environmental influences including at least one of high temperatures, high voltages, strong electromagnetic interference radiation and radioactivity, aggressive atmospheres including acids and bases, confined spaces, and explosive atmospheres. 
     
     
       14. The light guiding arrangement as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the light guiding arrangement is embodied for guiding light in a wavelength range from 0.2 to 6 micrometers. 
     
     
       15. A spark and/or flame detector for use with fire alarm and/or extinguishing control centers, comprising:
 a light guiding arrangement as claimed in  claim 1 , and 
 a sensor head,
 wherein the sensor head is set up for being coupled to the light exit opening of the light guiding arrangement. 
 
 
     
     
       16. A fire protection system for detecting sparks and/or flames, comprising:
 a spark and/or flame detector as claimed in  claim 15 , and 
 an evaluation unit. 
 
     
     
       17. The fire protection system as claimed in  claim 16 , further having a unit that dispenses extinguishing agent and/or a protection apparatus, wherein the unit that dispenses extinguishing agent is controlled by the evaluation unit and/or a central control unit. 
     
     
       18. The fire protection system as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the fire protection system is designed as a spark extinguishing system, and the evaluation unit and/or a central control unit is embodied as part of a spark alarm center. 
     
     
       19. A light guiding arrangement for transmitting electromagnetic radiation, the light guiding arrangement comprising:
 a housing and a light guiding rod, 
 wherein the housing has a light entrance opening and an opposite light exit opening, 
 wherein the light guiding rod is arranged in the housing between the light entrance opening and the light exit opening, and 
 wherein the light guiding rod is resiliently mounted in the housing on a radial side of the light guiding rod with a first spring-loaded mounting and an axial side of the light guiding rod with a second spring-loaded mounting.